PS: Economic Growth Best Consolidation, State Should Save on Itself

Bratislava, October 1 (TASR) - The best form of consolidation of public finances is economic growth, support for labour, employees, employers and the self-employed, said the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party on Tuesday, adding that the key is to take targeted measures, with the most vulnerable groups in mind. PS once again opined that the government has failed to manage the consolidation and is causing chaos. According to the party, savings should be made in state spending in particular. "Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) should have told each of his ministers at the beginning of the government to show him how they would save 20 percent on their respective expenditures. And only then, when savings are found, when savings are found in the running of the state, which we know could reach half a billion euros, only then should one stand in front of the public and say: the situation is difficult, we have to raise taxes," said PS leader Michal Simecka. Simecka remarked that the vast majority of the government-proposed consolidation, if passed in its current form, will be paid for by the most vulnerable groups of the population. According to PS, consolidation measures should be systematic and should not come at the expense of workers. "The best consolidation is economic growth. It should certainly not be at the expense of workers, those who create value. We would invest in entrepreneurship, for instance, via a deductible levy, by investing in science, research, education,"said PS economic expert Stefan Kiss. zel/df